I'm jealous of y'all who are having showers. My mom's friend threw one out of town, but it was all pretty much my mom's friends.

None of my friends locally have stepped up to throw me one, so it looks like I'm not having one. Kind of bummed about that. Not that it wasn't wonderful to have a shower thrown for me by my mom and her friends, and not that we aren't grateful for all the gifts, but there's something about having a shower surrounded by your friends that feels like an important rite of passage to me. I don't even care about the gifts - we haven't registered for much.

I've been stupidly mopey about it, but I got married a little over a year ago, and I think I tapped out my throw-me-a-party karma on the bridal shower and bachelorette party. Enjoy your showers ladies!

LR here - just had my first baby shower (doing 2 - one in DC and one at home in NJ) this past weekend in NJ - it was great to see all my friends that I don't see on a regular basis!

Played silly games, ate good food, opened gifts and had a great time!

I will be 32 weeks on Weds and it's getting a little uncomfy these days with Braxton Hicks and my ever growing belly! Plus the heat has brought on swelling of my feet, yay!

My LO gets hiccups all the time - it's cute and weird all at once.

Less than two months left now!! This is going so fast!!

Anonymous wrote:VEE here. I'm 29 weeks today. I had an appointment a week ago at which I was really exhausted and stressed. My doctor took one look at me and told me I need to start taking it easy. This is my 2nd, and apparently the second time around you experience everything sooner. I was glad to hear her say that because I've definitely been feeling more like I did at 32, 33 weeks the first time around.

To Elle, I think at some point they can start telling you if the head is up or down. My little guy has the hiccups from time to time, and I can feel them really low, so I assume he's head down.

I'm dealing with a lot of discomfort as well, though some days are better than others. I have sciatic pain in my right side often, and sometimes have trouble turning over in bed, but nothing debilitating (knock on wood!) Eating small meals helps. The most uncomfortable I've been was the day I ate a huge buffalo chicken salad for lunch. I will not be doing that again!!

Petunia here. I think I have been feeling hiccups too, and am feeling them down low. It feels like a heartbeat, but is too slow to be mine or the baby's. And, I it does not "beat" at the same time as my pulse. I usually feel them when I am sitting, as opposed to standing or lying down. I was confused when I first felt this because I thought another sensation was hiccups (rhythmic twitches). Those may have been hiccups too, but the baby may have been in another position. How do hiccups feel to you all?

While I wish none of us were experiencing so much discomfort, I am happy to hear it is normal at this point in the pregnancy. It hit me like a ton of bricks this week, and I know it will just get worse. I guess it is a small price to pay, but, man, it is a pain (literally!).

So, are people preparing for baby showers? Mine is next month. I am looking forward to it, but am a little worried I will be feeling really uncomfortable then. I am sure I will be distracted and, hopefully, not notice the pain as much. Maybe this is wishful thinking!

VEE here. I'm 29 weeks today. I had an appointment a week ago at which I was really exhausted and stressed. My doctor took one look at me and told me I need to start taking it easy. This is my 2nd, and apparently the second time around you experience everything sooner. I was glad to hear her say that because I've definitely been feeling more like I did at 32, 33 weeks the first time around.

To Elle, I think at some point they can start telling you if the head is up or down. My little guy has the hiccups from time to time, and I can feel them really low, so I assume he's head down.

I'm dealing with a lot of discomfort as well, though some days are better than others. I have sciatic pain in my right side often, and sometimes have trouble turning over in bed, but nothing debilitating (knock on wood!) Eating small meals helps. The most uncomfortable I've been was the day I ate a huge buffalo chicken salad for lunch. I will not be doing that again!!

Elle here. 31 weeks and officially 7 months! I am actually feeling excited now. Our first childbirth class is tonight. We're doing hypnobirth classes.

Baby is just starting to get up into my ribs. It reminds me not to slouch because yeah, unlike all the other poking, bumping and rolling this baby has been doing, the ribs hurt!

Is anyone else nervous about positioning as the baby starts to run out of room? I still have ZERO idea whether the baby is head-down or head-up or sometimes one then the other, or sideways or what, and I wish I knew! I so so so want to do a low-intervention birth, so I keep whispering to him to get head-down and just get comfortable for the next two months.

I don't know why I'm so obsessed with it. I know it's only a small percentage of babies that are breech/transverse. But a coworker just gave birth and had to do a scheduled c-section because of a breech. If that's what has to happen, I'll live, but it's not my first choice...

My doula said save Spinning Babies stuff for when you actually have an issue (though she might just mean the breech tilt), so I've been sticking mostly with doing prenatal yoga, cat-cows, and stuff like that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, I couldn't agree more - it will be totally worth it! I have waited years and years to have this baby!

Anyone getting REALLY uncomfortable? This week I have had a LOT of stomach pain, some nausea, rib pain, shortness of breath and cannot get comfortable at night. It is as if there is suddenly no room left int here, and everything has pressure on it - above and below the uterus. With 9 more weeks to go...not sure how I can do it.

I am 2 weeks behind you, and while not yet REALLY uncomfortable, I am definitely short of breath at times. People around seem a little alarmed, but there is not much I can do about it.

I'm 28w3d and very uncomfortable. Rib pain horrible, have to sleep propped up on like 4 pillows to be able to breathe comfortably. Miserable!!! Terrified of it getting worse as time goes on. Pressure too - always scared since I have a cerclage. Like you, have wanted and tried for this baby for years and years.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, I couldn't agree more - it will be totally worth it! I have waited years and years to have this baby!

Anyone getting REALLY uncomfortable? This week I have had a LOT of stomach pain, some nausea, rib pain, shortness of breath and cannot get comfortable at night. It is as if there is suddenly no room left int here, and everything has pressure on it - above and below the uterus. With 9 more weeks to go...not sure how I can do it.

I am 2 weeks behind you, and while not yet REALLY uncomfortable, I am definitely short of breath at times. People around seem a little alarmed, but there is not much I can do about it.

Oh, I couldn't agree more - it will be totally worth it! I have waited years and years to have this baby!

Anyone getting REALLY uncomfortable? This week I have had a LOT of stomach pain, some nausea, rib pain, shortness of breath and cannot get comfortable at night. It is as if there is suddenly no room left int here, and everything has pressure on it - above and below the uterus. With 9 more weeks to go...not sure how I can do it.

I'm 31 weeks tomorrow and people keep telling me I look like I'm due any day. Very annoying. I'm not too worried about giving birth. I have my doula and my birth ball and I've been doing hypnobabies. I also have absolutely no problem abandoning all of it as long as I end with a healthy baby in my arms! I trust my doctor and know she's committed to a low intervention birth and will do what's medically necessary to get us though safely. I'm sure it's going to be a long day, but we can do it and it'll be totally worth it!

Petunia here. I swear, I have gotten quite a bit bigger since my last post. As LR said, I can't imagine how much bigger I will get over the next 2 months!

I am delivering at INOVA Fairfax. I can't wait for that day to come...or, actually, for that day to be over with! Anyone else getting a little nervous about labor and delivery?

Meant to say, I have 10 weeks to go too. Well, 9 1/2 really! Or 8, or 11 or whatever...

Elle here. I'm delivering at GW. I'm 10 weeks (+ or - whenever the baby wants to come). I'm delivering with the midwifery practice there.

I don't know how I'm going to cope with days like today. It was pretty brutal being outside for even just a little bit.

LR here - Got my TDAP this morning. Also went through a growth spurt last two weeks! I feel huge too and can't imagine how much bigger I can get in 2 months time!!

Little one is super active these days too!! Only 10 weeks to go!

Where is everyone delivering?

Elle here. Yeah. I think baby's been going through a growth spurt for me too. 30 weeks on Monday. Wacky. I feel like I can't get any bigger (though I'm measuring normal, I feel enormous) but I know it's gonna be quite the home "stretch". I'm sort of waiting for all the unpleasant things I've heard can happen at this point - itching, swelling, etc, but I've been feeling great so far.

Oh no, I just cursed it.

That said, I had my GD test last week and was so nervous about it I started crying. And then I said out loud, "Oh god, I'm one of those pregnant women!" So clearly hormones are doing a number on me.

Hi August mamas! Petunia here! I hope everyone is doing great as we are in the homestretch!

Re: Morning sickness. I did feel some nausea about 2 weeks ago at 26 weeks. I also had some cramping on those days. But, I have not experienced anything like that since then.

I just went to Target to buy shorts and possibly a dress. I was really disappointed with their selection. I did end up with shorts, but I don't totally love the fit (a little baggy). The dresses were a little tight in the belly. I could wear them now, but not for much longer. While in the checkout line, I saw Oatmeal Cream Pies. I have not had one since I was a kid, and have been eating fairly healthy food. I impulsively bought them and am now eating my second one! Ooops!

I am at 28 weeks and feel like my stomach has had quite a growth spurt over the past 2 weeks (this was pre-Oatmeal Cream Pies indulgences). Anyone else have a growth spurt? I guess it makes sense since the babies are growing at about 1/2 lb. a week.